The Hindu : Karnataka News : Halkar panel committed to protecting forests

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Others

Halkar panel committed to protecting forests

By Our Correspondent

KARWAR, SEPT. 6. While denudation of forests and pilferage of forest wealth are common these days despite environmentalists raising their voices even against the Forest Department for such alleged misdeeds, the Halkar village forest committee in Kumta taluk provides a silver lining. Established during the British period, the Halkar village forest committee has been able to protect forests in nearly 250 acres of land around the village even today.

Unlike village forest panchayats set up with the control of the Forest Department under the forestry management scheme, the Halkar village forest committee works independently. The Halkar committee's success story reflects the commitment of villagers to protect forests.

The village forest committee was a brainchild of a British officer of the then Kanara district, G.F.S. Collins. The Indian Forest Act of 1920 made provision for establishment of such committees in the coastal taluks of Ankola, Kumta, Honnavar and Bhatkal and also in Haliyal taluk in the upghat area.

The committee, a democratically formed body, involves the villagers to protect, preserve and develop forests around their villages. Such committees have authority over the forests in their respective villages.

They can sell wood (other than the reserved species such as teak, rosewood and sandal wood) at a normal price to villagers. It is the duty of the committee to plant saplings now and then. According to the Forest Act of 1920, the committee has the right to prosecute those trying to exploit forest wealth.

However, with the implementation of the Karnataka Forest Act of 1962, the Government ordered the abolition of forest committees. However, two committees — the Murur-Kallabbe-Hosad committee and the Halkar committee in Kumta taluk — obtained a stay from the High Court of Karnataka against the abolition. Thus, the village forest committees continue to exist in these villages today.

Gajanan Gunaga, president of the Halkar village forest committee, says the committee has an annual income of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 on an average. While some portion of this revenue is utilised to plant new saplings, the balance is deposited in the committee's bank account. The villagers get wood required by them from the committee at moderate rates. Villagers do not indulge in illegal cutting of trees. Instead, they take interest in protecting trees, Gunaga says.

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